Masvingo

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Masvingo is one of Zimbabwe's smaller cities which is located on south eastern part of Zimbabwe. It is the capital of the Masvingo Province. The city is known mostly for it's proximity to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, an ancient city located about 28 kilometers away.

Masvingo, formally Fort Victoria is one of the oldest towns in Zimbabwe having been found in 1890. Mostly populated by the Karanga people, the town is located in south-eastern part of the country bordering Mozambique on its eastern border and Matabeleland South to the south, Midlands to the north and west and Manicaland to the north east.

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Founding

The Masvingo City

Masvingo was Rhodesian first town having been built by the Pioneer Column when it arrived in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The fort was built in 1890, and was named Fort Victoria after then queen of England, Queen Victoria. By 1899 however the the prefix was dropped and it became plain Victoria, only to be reverted to its original name in 1917.[1]

Geography and Climate

Masvingo stands at coordinates 20°3'S, 30°52'E. The city has a mean temperature of 19.4 degrees Celsius and total annual precipitation that averages 614.4 mm. The sun in Masvingo averages 2991 hours annualy.[2]

Tourist Attractions

Mutirikwi Dam

Great Zimbabwe Monument

The ruins are one of the oldest in Africa having been built without motor around 1250 AD.

Lake Mutirikwi

This is the largest man-made lake within the country that offers fishing and boating activities.

Bondolfi, Serima & Driefontein missions

Bushman Paintings

Civic centre and gardens

Copota school for the Blind

Glenlivet

Kyle Recreational Park

The area has superb mountains

Italian Chapel

This magnificent site was built by Italian prisoners of war during World War 2.[3]